Paris 3-day itinerary
France
Where to go and what to see in Paris – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Anna Brooke.
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Overview >Bucket list experience:
The Pantheon of Paris
Last updated: 09 November, 2022
Built 1758-1790 at the behest of Louis XV of France, this grandiose monument to France’s ‘great men’ was originally intended to be a church dedicated to Sainte Genevieve. But during the French Revolution, it was converted into a mausoleum to house the remains of distinguished French citizens – to acknowledge and honour their contribution to the nation. The crypt contains the remains of 80 people, including the tombs of Voltaire, Hugo, Zola, Pierre and Marie Curie and Louis Braille.
Modelled on Rome’s Pantheon, the building is an early example of Neoclassicism, with a striking interior. The dome was designed to rival St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. It’s 83m high, compared to 136m for St. Peter’s. You can climb the dome for city views.
Don’t miss
The reconstruction of Foucault’s Pendulum directly beneath the dome. This famous experiment, which took place in the Pantheon building in 1851, proved the rotation of the Earth.
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Destination Guide >Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience
Paris 6-day itinerary
France
Where to go and what to see in Paris – a 6-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Anna Brooke.
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Overview >Price from: £10
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 18+
When: All year around
Getting there & doing it
The nearest metro stop is Cardinal Lemoine, on line 10. It’s a 5-minute walk from there. Audio guides are available at entry in multiple languages, or you can download a tour app.
When to do it
The monument is open all year round, seven days a week. Go first thing to avoid the tour groups. It’s free to all on the first Sunday of the month between November and March – expect more crowds then.
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Hotel des Grandes Ecoles
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[0.3 miles]
This tranquil hotel has a gorgeous garden and delightful, old-fashioned charm, in the heart of Paris.
Official star rating:
Hotel Luxembourg Parc
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[0.9 miles]
This lovely, classic hotel puts you within walking distance of Paris’ major sights, perfect for first-time visitors.
Official star rating:
Hotel Monte Cristo
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[1 miles]
Close to all the sights, this gorgeous, literary-themed hotel with a pool, rum bar and restaurant hits the spot for couples and small groups.
Official star rating:
Hotel d’Aubusson
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[1.1 miles]
A grand, historic boutique hotel, set in a 17th-century St-Germain townhouse, offers both history and a brilliant, contemporary Left Bank location.
Official star rating:
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Paris
Ile-de-France, France
Crammed with iconic buildings, world-class art and a culinary scene steeped in history, Paris is one of the world’s great capitals, overflowing with style, romance, and art de vivre.
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Overview >Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Museum of the Middle Ages
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[0.5 miles]
Paris’ official museum of the Middle Ages, set one of Paris’ oldest and finest medieval buildings. It’s home to the world-famous 15th-century La Dame a la Licorne (The Lady and the Unicorn) tapestry, and Paris’ oldest sculpture (1349 AD).
Best for ages: 13+ | £4
La Conciergerie
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[1.1 miles]
This vast Medieval palace was most famous as the ‘antechamber to the guillotine’ in the French Revolution. Three thousand prisoners were tried and convicted here, including France’s last queen Marie Antoinette.
Best for ages: 13+ | £10
Paris’ best shopping
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[1.2 miles]
Paris has everything from luxury fashion and indie boutiques, to hip department stores, markets and quirky antiques bazaars.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free | Any
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National Museum of Modern Art, Centre Pompidou
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[1.7 miles]
Europe’s largest collection of modern and contemporary art, housed in Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano’s iconic inside-out building.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Experience
Sainte-Chapelle
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[1 miles]
Paris’ most exquisite Gothic monument was built by Louis IX in 1248 to house his collection of Passion relics, including Christ’s Crown of Thorns (now at Notre-Dame Cathedral). It has one of the most extensive 13th-century stained-glass collections anywhere in the world.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
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Experience
Natural History Museum
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[1.3 miles]
Founded in 1793 during the French Revolution, this impressive museum has four substantive galleries, with dinosaurs galore, all dedicated to preserving and educating about the natural world.
Best for ages: 4+ | £26
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Experience
Paris Catacombs
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[1.7 miles]
These eerie bone-lined passages, set in a former quarry 20m underground, contain the remains of several million Parisians. The residents – including many victims of the notorious guillotine – were buried here when existing cemeteries overflowed during the French Revolution.
Best for ages: 13+ | £23
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Experience
Victor Hugo’s House
Paris, Ile-de-France, France[1.7 miles]
The apartment where famous French poet and novelist Victor Hugo lived for 16 years, now a museum about his life and works.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
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